Sunday 27 December 2009 15.10 EST
First published on Sunday 27 December 2009 15.10 EST

The England batsman Jonathan Trott was tonight accused of gamesmanship after he continually held up the South Africa bowlers while he settled in the crease. Trott will resume tomorrow morning on 17 after Andrew Strauss's half-century laid the foundations for a positive response of 103 for one to the home side's 343 on the second day of the second Test here.

But the Cape Town-born Trott, who is one of two South Africans in the England side along with Kevin Pietersen, annoyed Graeme Smith's side in the first Test of the series at Centurion this month and his antics today further frustrated AB de Villiers, South Africa's leading batsman. "It's a tactic," he said. "And I think it's a tactic that might get him into trouble soon, if he keeps doing it."

Even though he faced 26 balls today, he annoyed the home side with the time he took making his mark at the crease and going through a series of fidgety preparations before each bowler ran in. The wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was seen at one point waving his arms and shaking his head. De Villiers said: "It's pretty frustrating, I must admit. It's something Smithy is dealing with and the umpires are aware of it. All our bowlers have got little rhythms getting into their run-ups. So it's frustrating for them, I know. Smithy is talking to the umpires and he's talking to Trotty as well, pretty much on the field. I don't think it's too nice for the bowlers because it disturbs them."

Trott's approach was defended later by Graeme Swann, who was again England's most successful bowler with four wickets on another day shortened by rain and bad light. Swann said: "It's not something he's been working on. He's done it against me every year I've played against him. It's just Trotty. It's how he bats, how he goes about things. He's got a very organised and very clear game plan.

"Not everyone bats at the same tempo. Some get ready very quickly, some take their time. Trotty is very circumspect. He's got his game plan and he sticks to it. I don't think he takes an overdue amount of time. Maybe when he first goes in it seems like that but only because it gets highlighted and everyone is looking for it now." Some sections of the crowd also showed their frustration with Trott but Swann said: "I'm not sure that was entirely because he was taking his time to get his eye in. It might have had something to do with where he was born as well."

England were well on top when they had South Africa 285 for nine but then their bowlers lost the initiative as the last pair of Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini put on 58 in 13 overs.

Swann said: "When we had them nine down for 300 we were in a very good position. Ideally we would have finished it off then. And we would have had if we hadn't ruined the chance to use the review system by wasting one on Morne Morkel. But we still can't get to grips with it and I'm palpably to blame for that." There were seven reviews today, two of which overturned decisions made by the umpire. But England generally came off better than South Africa, with most of the appeals made by both sides went in their favour.